Blackwater Unveils Its Airship

MOYOCK, N.C., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackwater Airships, a division of Blackwater Worldwide, is pleased to announce the successful initial test flights of the Polar 400 Airship. The Airship will add to Blackwater's capabilities as a technical service provider to government and non-government clients.

The first flight of approximately forty-five minutes was conducted on Thursday, November 8 and the second flight, also of about forty-five minutes, was conducted on Monday, November 12. Both flights were manned by an experienced airship pilot and a flight observer to record flight data, but the vehicle is intended to be used as a remotely piloted vehicle.

The Polar 400 will provide military, law enforcement, and non-government customers a low-cost lighter-than-air vehicle that is both a long-duration alternative to traditional fixed and rotary-wing UAVs, manned aircraft, and other persistent surveillance assets. It is intended for a wide variety of persistent missions - battlefield surveillance, facility/installation/port security, border security, communications relay, and others. The Polar 400's innovative airship technology will perform tasks normally done by costlier manned and unmanned aircraft with minimal ground crew and will provide persistent surveillance measured in terms of days rather than hours.

A key feature of this new design airship includes the multiple thrusters of its groundbreaking hydraulic propulsion system which provides excellent low speed control and maneuverability, along with easier ground handling compared to traditional airships.

In the coming weeks, Blackwater will continue to test, innovate, and prepare the Polar 400 for production in 2008.

Guided by integrity, innovation, accountability, and a desire for a safer world, Blackwater Worldwide leverages state-of-the-art training facilities, professional program management teams, and innovative manufacturing and production capabilities to deliver world-class, customer-driven solutions.